Secret Professionel by Phyto
Most of us don't take note of this, but a lot of hair conditioners contain silicone or derivatives of silicone - the ingredient that is used to make plastics - to impart smoothness to hair.

Prolonged use of such products will begin to take its toll on our hair, as the scalp gets coated with it and pores are unable to breathe, leading to lifeless, limp and unhealthy hair.

Patrick Ales, an eminent French hairstylist who came up with the modern method of blow-drying hair and who studied botanical ingredients and its benefits to hair, then created Secret Professionel by Phyto to give women a chance to experience pampering using luxurious and sensual-textured formulations made from plant and fruit decoctions, infusions and essential oils that is not only pleasurable, but beneficial for weakened and stressed strands.

With the aromas of fruits and flowers such as sweet orange, guava, persimmon, kiwi, blackcurrants, blueberries, edelweiss flowers, green tea and sunflower to uplift the spirit, treating, repairing, restoring and rebalancing is nothing short of luxurious. Its products are largely silicone and paraben-free to give hair as natural an experience as possible, without artificial, scalp-choking ingredients.

Opt for an in-salon experience, with a therapist who will assess your scalp and hair needs, where essential oils are applied to balance the scalp, followed by a purifying experience with shampoos that are adapted to individual hair types, and a final step that beautifies by delivering nutrition and radiance using deep conditioning treatments.

Or try the products in the comfort of home. Our rave is Secret Professionel's latest addition - The Botanical Smoothing Program.

Containing bamboo extract, pine pulp derivative and litchi extract, the Smoothing Shampoo ($40, 200ml)  uses natural ingredients to tame frizz amd provide intense moisture and shine, while the Smoothing Balm (a conditioner) (S$55, 200ml) has a silicone-free formula to relax hair and protect it from humidity. Use this after shampooing and on towel-dried hair.

Finish with the Botanical Smoothing Serum (S$68, 50ml) with bamboo marrow extract enhanced by cameline seeds and hazelnut oils that are ruch in polysaccharides to smoothe hair and fight static. It also protects hair against daily styling stresses caused by heat with flower acids that tighten cuticle cells and wheat amino acids to strengthen and restructure capillary fibres.

Secret Professionel by Phyto scalp and hair programs and products range from S$30 to S$100. Please call 6278 8456 for salon listings.